10 Jobs That Kept a Medieval City Running: Inside 14th-Century London
Discover how medieval London was governed with this look at 10 city jobs—from mayors and sheriffs to scavengers and ale-conners—based on a rare 14th-century manuscript known as the Jubilee Book.
Medieval London Murder Solved: Priest Killed by Noblewoman’s Orders
A priest murdered in 14th-century London. A noblewoman’s vendetta. Cambridge’s Medieval Murder Maps reveals a tangled tale of adultery, public penance, and revenge near St Paul’s Cathedral.
London’s Guildhall Library Celebrates 600 Years with a Year of Events
In 1425, London’s Guildhall Library was founded with funds from the will of Richard Whittington, the famous four-time Lord Mayor of London. Now, 600 years later, this institution—home to one of the world’s most significant collections of books on London history—is marking its anniversary with a year-long programme of talks, walks, and literary exhibitions.
Medieval London Skeletons Rewrite Health History
Studying medieval skeletons can help create specific health measures for different populations in the past, according to a recent study published in the journal Science Advances.
New Medieval Books: Paved with Gold
A biography of Richard Whittington, a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in the 14th and 15th centuries. While Whittington would later become the story of folklore and legend, this book mostly focuses on what he did in London and his interactions with several English kings.
Mapping Medieval London
This lecture will look at the challenges and rewards of creating historical maps of London. In particular it will focus on medieval London, and the map published by the Historic Towns Trust in 2019.
When an Albanian ‘King’ Marched through Medieval London
The tale of a labour dispute aboard a Venetian vessel provides insights into the inhabitants of medieval London.
The Alchemy Craze in Medieval London
If you were living in London in the mid-15th century, you may have got caught up in the alchemy craze. The idea of turning base metals into gold and silver was seducing many people, including the King of England.
Eyeglasses’ Arrival: How Immigrants Transformed Medieval England’s Vision
Eyeglasses can be considered one of the most important inventions of the Middle Ages. A recent study shows that by the 1440s people in England could buy their own spectacles, thanks to a group of immigrants living just outside of London.
Early medieval site discovered under National Gallery in London
Early medieval London extended further west than previously thought, as archaeologists have uncovered remains of buildings underneath the National Gallery at the north end of Trafalgar Square.
Collaborative Research in the Digital Age: Crowdsourcing the Get to Know Medieval Londoners Project
Delving into the collaborative possibilities that advanced technology offers, this seminar will showcase a unique partnership between historians and a group of volunteers unrestricted by geography or traditional academic structures.
A Medieval Dream
A pregnant woman in medieval London dreams of a log of wood and a slab of marble. What does it mean?
New source about the Norman Conquest of England discovered
It is rare to find new information about the Norman Conquest of England, but a historian has uncovered a document revealing William I’s relationship with London shortly after 1066.
Tavern Names in Medieval London
What were the names of taverns in the Middle Ages? A list from late medieval London reveals over 50 names, which were inspired by animals, everyday objects and saints.
New Medieval Books: London: A Fourteenth-Century City and its People
A look at the daily life of medieval Londoners using the abundant records from the city. Over 40 different topics are covered, ranging from sanitation to crimes and roads to religion.
The Great Fire and the end of Medieval London
How long was London a ‘medieval’ city?
Government Jobs in the Middle Ages: 14th-century London
What were the kinds of jobs that medieval people did in a city government? A book from 14th-century London offers details about the positions and roles of civic officials in that city, ranging from the Mayor to Scavengers.
Corrupted Air and Water: Pollution in Medieval Cities
When poop and entrails filled the Thames. Dealing with urban pollution in the Middle Ages.
Household Goods in Medieval London with Katherine French
Material goods are a rich and fascinating source for finding out more about the ordinary lives of the people of the Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Katherine French about what Londoners’ homes were like both before and after the Black Death, what they filled them with, and how we know.
Famine in Medieval London
How climate change, supply chain issues and inflation helped to create massive food shortages and starvation in medieval London.
Crafting Communities: Masons in Medieval London
A look at how misteries, guilds and fraternities worked to create a sense of community for the masons of medieval London.
Gilds and Things: Keeping the Peace in 10th Century London
In the early 10th century, the inhabitants of London and the surrounding region formed one of the first recorded guilds in England – the so-called ‘peace gild’.
Inner Circles: Reading and Writing in Late Medieval London
New findings reveal that London’s clerks and scriveners, who moved between English, French, and Latin, formed professional ‘communities of practice’, which played a significant part in the dissemination of literary manuscripts.
King Henry III of England: an interview with David Carpenter
Ian Stone talks with David Carpenter about his book Henry III: The Rise to Power and Personal Rule, 1207-1258